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Introduction

Disciple's Diary is a marvelously rich multimedia database about Jesus. The main feature of the program are 10 Periods in the Life of Christ as narrated by "The Disciple." After each of these short presentations the student can search the CD's content for that period by using the Search Jar (an icon seen during the narrated presentations. This same information, plus some new features and material are also arranged into a Quest Game that takes students through the CD's content. At the beginning of the program you can select either the Quest Game or the Archive/10 Periods section.

Disciple's Diary is receiving a new wave of fans after several years being thought of as an "advanced program for advanced teachers." The guide you have in front of you is a breakthrough in understanding that makes Diary easier to use for more people. These important teaching insights from come some of Diary's early fans. Through trial and error, experience and insight, they have made Disciple's Diary a much easier program for all.

I'm really proud of this particular guide. It truly represents what Sunday School Software Ministries is all about....finding the good software....sticking with it.....learning how best to use it...and sharing these teaching insights with others. Of course, this electronic document can change. Your suggestions are welcome.

A reminder: Much of the information and stories about Jesus in Disciple's Diary are paralleled in two other popular programs: Life of Christ and A Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus. Each presents its material in a unique way. Used in combination with each other, students have an tremendous wealth of material.
<>< Neil MacQueen

The SECRET to making DISCIPLE'S DIARY easy to use:

Instead of plowing right into the Archive of the program --go to the STEPS under the Archway in the Archive menu screen. The Archway is labeled "Periods in the Life of Jesus." You can see them in the picture here --the Archway left of the Bible. Unlike the rest of the Archive which throws the entire contents of Diary at you (thus making it difficult to sift through), the Archway Steps or Periods organize this vast archive into ten neat and tidy units or lessons.

More on the breakthrough....
Each of the ten steps is really a lesson. The Disciple offers up a 4 to 7 minute narration of that period in Jesus' life --and then something very important happens.... the SEARCH JAR appears as a jar icon on the narration scroll. When opened from the parchment (see illustration below) the Jar selects only those elements from the archive related to what the Disciple just talked about in the narration.

The Search Jar throws all Diary's vast content at you if you use the Jar in the main area of the Archive (pictured above). Frankly....this is what was making Diary so hard to use. Teachers and students were approaching the program through the Jar in the Archive rather than the Jar in the narrations where the material is organized better. When you use the Steps in the Archway, you can plan a lesson around each step --listening to the narration and then browsing related information collected by the Jar.

Steps = Scrolls = Periods The "steps" in the Archway are called "periods" and also "scrolls." It's a bit confusing but the ten scrolls in the Quest game are indentical in period to the steps under the Archway. This was throwing some teachers off a bit who were searching the ten scrolls found in the main Search Jar in the main room of the Archive NOT realizing that the term "scroll" corresponded to the "steps" in the Archway.

How can you use this steps = period = scroll info?

As a navigational shortcut....
For example: Say you're studying The Birth of Jesus but don't want to use the narration. You can shorcut right into the Search Jar in the Main Archive, move the slider until you come to Scroll #1, then look at what can be found in Scroll #1 ...it's the same material the Jar automatically would have called up for you were you to have gone into Step #1, listened to the narration and then clicked on the scroll icon on the narration parchment. This one simple automatic and organizational trick that Diary makes under the archway makes the program much easier to teach with.

The 10 scrolls or steps in the Archive are the exact same ones used in the QUEST GAME.

Other program observations: Disciple's Diary includes an excellent article database for serious student and teacher researchers. Some of these articles should be printed out for teacher background. Some of the special multimedia materials can only be found in the Quest Game, including the spectacular tour of Caesarea Philippi and the satellite map fly-overs. The 40 minute video presentation on the Life of Jesus (found on the shelf in the Archive) is an entertaining weaving together of many of Diary's video segments into a narrative. To access only a portion of it, use the fast forward button.

Some interesting background on Disciple's Diary
Diary was produced in Israel by three Israeli software companies and the Center for the Study of the Early Christian Church in Israel. It's former American distributor and financier was Word Media -which was bought by Thomas Nelson Publishers. The Israeli team which made Diary had previously worked on Israeli airforce software! ...among other projects. Sunday School Software is now the exclusive distributor and tech support provider for Disciple's Diary.

Our Techie Notes: Diary says it will run on a 486/33 or Mac 68030/25. No way. This CD really needs a +75mhz chip, 16mb+ ram, and definitely a 12x CD or higher. Some of the clues and the scroll niche in the Quest Game work frustratingly slow on slower machines. If you're using a really slow CD drive you may find certain Quest Game features difficult to use.

If you have any problems running Diary's videos, make sure you've installed Diary's Quicktime program (located on the disc). Turning down the hardware accelerator in Win 95/98 advanced Display settings may help solve strange Quicktime video errors. The tech support number that comes with the program no longer supports Diary. Contact our ministry for help and new Diary tech support information.

OUTLINE to the Ten Steps Under the Archway in the Disciple's Archive

I've given brief outlines of each step, plus don't miss highlights from the video selections the Jar icon presents you with when clicked. The artwork and other items are interesting too but it is the videos which are most special and thus outlined here.

These 10 steps correspond very nicely with the stained glass window menus in A Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus CD and many of the lessons in Discovery's Life of Christ. In fact, this is one of the most popular ways to use Disciple's Diary --in conjunction with other Jesus software.

When viewing any of the 3-D buildings, first press the >> play button to hear and see. Then go back through the house controlling the speed yourself and pausing uing the << and >> buttons.

When viewing any of the THEN and TODAY pictures, slide slowly to see what are usually several more pictures in-between then and today.

Step 1: Birth and Early Life

Narration: Jesus chose to live with his family. His observations of daily life became basis for teachings.
Several excellent video selections listed by the Jar: Bethlehem 1 and 2, One Room House 3-D.

Technical error: The Jar at the end of the narration may try to go to Herod material. Instead, select Scroll #1 from the Jar and let the Jar list its contents again for you (only technical glitch in the program we've found).

Step 2: Baptism and Early Ministry

Narration: All about John the Baptist and Jesus' Temptation in the Wildnerness
Videos: Don't miss Jordan River flyover, Essene Temple, Judean Wilderness, and Qumran. See note about controlling 3-D motion above.

This section corresponds quite well with the Jordan River "photobubble" in Footsteps of Jesus.

Step 3: Itinerant Ministry

Narration: Cana and Miracles. Jesus in Nazareth (Luke 4), Outward and Inward Change
Videos: Cana, Nain, and Nazareth are not to be missed.

This section introduces the exciting idea of Jesus early on in his ministry travelling alone and teaching in homes and synagogues. Bring a map (or pull one up on a computer) to study this Step.

Step 4: Ministry from Capernaum I

Narration: Jesus moves to the seashore. The Disciples tells how he became a disciple.
Sermon on the Mount, How Jesus taught, Who is welcome in the Kingdom.
Videos: Beatitudes, Capernaum I ruins

A Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus CD has some really nice "photobubbles" of Galilee and the hillside connected with Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Step 5: Ministry from Capernaum II

Narration: Jesus goes to Eastern Galilee to preach to the Gentiles, Jesus sent to save the lost, Gerasene Demoniac, Feeding of the 5000, What these miracles pointed to, Why some didn't believe.
Videos: Decapolis cities, Sea of Galilee

Bring a map into this lesson.

Step 6: Missionary Journeys

Narration: Peter declares Jesus the Messiah, Transfiguration
Videos: Mt. Tabor video of Transfiguration, Caesarea Philippi declaration of "you are the Christ."

Step 7: Last Journey to Jerusalem

Narration: More Jesus miracles, Explanation of why somne believed, What the Disciples were thinking was going to happen.
Videos: Capernaum 3-D is spectacular. Remember to use << and >> to slow down your walk through. A Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus CD travels to Capernaum too. Life of Christ lesson #17 recounts the healing of the paralytic at Peter's house in Capernaum.

Step 8: Final Ministry

Narration: Blind Bartimaus story, Raising of Lazarus
Videos: One room typical house 3-D walk through, Bethany video, home of Lazarus/Mary/Martha

Once again, Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus CD takes you to these places. Footsteps "Photobubble" of the Lazarus house is special. Life of Christ CD covers both Bartimaus and Lazarus stories.

Step 9: Last Week

Narration: Approaching Jerusalem, Issues about Jesus' popularity, Money changers, Judas
Videos: Jerusalem 3, Herod's Temple, Essene Temple

This reoccuring theme in Diary about "what others thought of Jesus" and "what we disciples thought about his activities" bears further exploration. You might want to have the students create a wall display or give them a handout about "who is who" in these stories and "what their opinion was of Jesus." Certainly the issue of "things that make you popular and unpopular" will be interesting to kids today.

The Gethsemane photobubble in Footsteps of Jesus CD and Herod's tour in Pathways Through Jerusalem will give students a view of the Temple, money changer's area and Kidron Valley.

Step 10: Passion, Death & Resurrection

Narration: Last Supper, Mt. of Olives, Jesus' Trial, Crucifixion words, reaction of disciple's to resurrection. The Disciple's narration keys in on what the disciples were thinking about all these events.
Videos: Last Supper, Mt. of Olives, Trial. Step 10 is chock-full of good videos to view. Plan for plenty of time.

Step 10 Comments:
Here again, A Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus is an excellent companion for Step 10, especially the photobubbles of the Garden Tomb and Gethsemane. Pathways Through Jerusalem's Raphael Tour also visits many of the same locations. Discovery's Life of Christ has an excellent lesson on the Passover-Last Supper connection (lesson 31).

Fodder for discussion: "What would you have been thinking? What would you have done if....."

Plan on spending at least two class periods to explore it all. You might want to set up your computers to do a bit of rotating during these classes between the various pieces of software that dovetail so nicely with this step. Note: Step 10 does NOT have much on the Resurrection. Use other software mentioned to cover this topic.

Teaching Tips

A Sample Lesson Plan: 1. Open up class time with discussion away from the computers. Ask your students if they remember their own baptism, and what they think about when they see others being baptized. Describe what software is going to be used today. Set out a few ground rules about sharing the computer controls. Set the context for Jesus' baptism at the beginning of his ministry. 2. Begin with a visit to a Step in the Archive Archway and listen to the narration. Follow-up with brief discussion. Discussion questions about the Disciple's narration can be written on a worksheet. Sample Questions for Baptism Step Narration: Why did Jesus need to be baptized? Why was he immediately sent into the wilderness? What happened in the wildnerness? Can you find that passage in your Bible? Let's take a look....(Luke 3). Etc. 3. After the Narration, click on the Jar Icon located on the parchment/scroll. Go right to the videos and tell your students they may select up to five (or any number) different related videos to view. (Preview all the videos and tell the kids which they should skip to save time). On paper or on the board, post questions for students to consider while they browse the videos. Discuss these after they are done browsing. The kids may not at first sense the connection between certain videos and the Disciple's narration. For example: they may not make a connection between the cool Essene Temple tour and John the Baptist mentioned in the narration. Your comment (written or spoken) could be something like this... "John was probably an Essene. Some people think Jesus might have lived for a time as an Essene because he was related to John and was baptized like an Essene by John. An Essene is something like a Pharisee except they had some different beliefs. Some Essenes lived in special Essene communities like Qumran (hence the Qumran 3-D video). After viewing the 3-D of the Essene Temple, Do you think Jesus might have been an Essene? Why or Why not? (Answer: Not. Their Temple was going to be even more exclusive of people than the one that existed. Jesus preached inclusiveness.) 4. Wrap up your explorations with "so what" and "what does it mean to us?" questions. Example: Are their limits to inclusiveness? Do you think anybody should be able to be baptized? What is Baptism? What's our church's Baptism policy? What does it say about Baptism to know that when Jesus got his he was immediately led into the desert to be tempted? 5. Option: Invite student to explore Foosteps of Jesus or Life of Christ for related or similar subject matter. See "who can find it first." Prep a few questions. (Footsteps has a great "photobubble" of the desert wildnerss Jesus was led into.)

How to Work Diary into Your Schedule:

Many churches have reported that they are using Diary as a curriculum on the Life of Jesus. Two of those churches have even given their computer lab the name of "The Jesus Lab." They rotate their sixth and seventh grade classes into the lab for four to five weeks in a row several times a year to work through software like Diary, Footsteps and Discovery's Life of Christ. Some let their classes in for up to 10 weeks --using a combination of Jesus software like Diary with other Jesus media, such as the video Jesus Christ Superstar (one of my favorites).

Some churches are using the Steps in the Archive when the subject matches something in their curriculum schedule. Other's are systematically taking classes through the steps over several weeks, or intermittently over the course of the year. Creating a schedule of use seems quite appropriate.

Instead of going into the Archive Steps, some churches have their Jr. or Sr. High class play the Quest Game which makes a game out of going through the Archive. Going through the Quest game students sometimes skip over some Archive information in order to keep the game moving and find the scrolls. **Over a period of a year or two you might want to go through some of the Steps in the Archive and then return at a later date with the same class to visit the Archive through playing the Quest Game. Other churches have reported that they let only those kids who want to -play the Quest Game after class or during the week.

General Teaching Tips

1. It is strongly suggested that you spend some class time browsing the Archive, particularly the Archway with the 10 steps (Periods in Jesus' Life), before making a decision to use the Quest Game with a class. Many churches have found the Quest Game excellent for their needs. Others have found that with attendance patterns and kids interest levels -spending 4 to 6 weeks on the Quest Game is just too much. Instead, the break up the 10 steps and use them throughout the church year.

2. Some churches skip certain steps when they have software that does those topics better. Many churches have reported using the Steps/Periods in the Life of Jesus during the same class with other similar software such as Life of Christ and Footsteps of Jesus.

3. Get familiar with this CD! We suggest that you take an hour or two and wander through the Archive looking at the videos, getting a feel for how the program controls all operate, and learning how to search for info. Then play through the first scroll or two of the Quest game to see how it works.

4. Set your preferences! The stained glass control panel has a preference section that allows you to set degrees of difficulty (children/youth/adult). It even has some helpful controls for slower machines.

5. Do a "Dry-Run"... Some programs need a little more preparation. You may want to spend an afternoon with a student or two experimenting with Diary before unleashing it in a full-blown class. Often times, the difference between mediocre and great lessons are in the little tweaks and adjustments you make in progress. Getting stuck without knowing how to get unstuck can also sabotage a lesson. Your "dry-run" could make all the difference.

6. Consider your presentation! Depending on your class size and number of computers available, Diary can be used several ways. The Quest will take at least three hours to complete and could span as many as five one hour classes.

7. If you have MULTIPLE COMPUTERS and MULTIPLE COPIES of Diary, you could create a "contest" for several teams. In this case, give each team the scroll clues in sealed envelopes (or you can tell them while keeping track). They can open the clues but make it count against them in the final score. Use your imagination here depending on your circumstances.

8. If you have ONE COMPUTER consider either hooking up extra monitors to the one computer, OR borrowing a computer projection system to project it up on the wall. While using a projector removes the interactivity, it can be an impressive way to teach with programs like Disciple's Diary (ok.....you know I don't favor computer projectors as replacements for extra copies and computers......but there are exceptions to the rule.)

9. The Archive can be used as an INDEPENDENT RESEARCH TOOL or Presentation Aid either by students studying specific subjects, or by the teacher who is looking for ways to spice up their lesson presentation. Some of the videos are quite interesting and would spice up a traditional Bible study quite nicely.

10. "Quest-type" software is a fairly popular type of software game among children and teenagers (for example: the popular Carmen San Diego and King's Quest I -VII series). Girls seem particularly attracted to the "hunt." Some teens are better "gamers" than others. One of your challenges will be to include everyone in the quest. Take turns letting students control the mouse and keep Quest notes and clues.

11. If you're playing the Quest Game have CHEAT SHEETS and ARTICLES ready! There will be places where your students may get stuck (especially scrolls 6 and 7). There may be times when you want to move the game along more quickly. You will also find it very handy to have PREPRINTED the articles that contain the clue.

12. There is some material in the Quest Game which is not present in the Archive! The Archive, for example, doesn't have the cool Caesarea Philippi section (pictured right) or the 3-D satellite maps or panaramic photos of locations.

13. <<This Teaching Tip space is being reserved for YOUR great insight! >>

 Here Come the Answers to the Quest Game Scroll Hunt...

Another exclusive teaching help provided by Sunday School Software Ministries.

These clues may not be copied or distributed beyond the local church which purchased the program from our ministry. They are NOT printed or listed in the program.

To Play QUEST, load the program, select Quest, carefully read the instructions on the copper scroll and parchment scroll. It is recommended that you pre-print the articles that have clues.

The 10 clues may be found in any order.

I. In Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus-clue of temple coins from 2nd Jewish revolt; refer to the map, go to Herodium and ring the bell.

II. Qumran-Cryptic Script, pottery sherds must be pieced together and translated to "All scrolls are in caves," or "Some scrolls are in jars;" scroll is in a cave.

III. Nazareth/Cana-Image lamp, baptism, article on baptism, "The light of Christ shines to all," Mary's Well.

IV. Capernaum --Olives, wheat, grapes, see images of each.

V. Sea of Galilee - Boat, fish, Sardines & St. Peter's; refer to map, go to Kursi.

VI. Caesarea Philippi - suit of armor piece together (no guide, images or clues. Most difficult. Use clues in jar to help get beyond it to Nimrod's castle), fortresses and castles, Masada, Herodium, Nimrod's castle, go to Nimrod's castle.

VII. Scythopolis- place the flags (not easy to find forum or amphitheater); go to amphitheater and find the bird's nest.

Here are the correct positions of the flags needed. When you get the flag in the right spot, they wave.

VIII. Bethany/Jerusalem- Bottom sarcophagus, "Arcosolim;" go back to panorama, go to Absalom's Tomb.

IX. Bethseman/Jerusalem -Jewish practice, feasts, Barley for Passover, wheat for Pentecost, others for Tabernacle; lets you go to Huldah gate.

X. Jerusalem- candle, message, map of city, go to St. Stephen's monastery, garden tomb.

At the end, go to the archives for final story.